Newspaper Page Text
Page 4
December 4, 1990
Clark Atlanta University Panther
Open Letter From Dr. Thomas Cole Jr.
IMPROVED FACILITIES
(Following is an open letter from President Thomas
W. Cole Jr. to the students of Clark A tlanla University
in the aftermath of the death of Duane Goodman.)
November 27, 1990
Dear Clark Atlanta University Student:
The concerns raised by the Student Task Force on
Campus Security have been reviewed by the
University’s administrative officers. I write now to
inform you of actions taken and to provide timelines
for the completion of additional work.
In general, concerns articulated by the Task Force,
by students and other forums and by individuals may
be grouped into three categories: enhanced security
presence, improved facilities and services and better
communication. Each of these areas is addressed
below.
ENHANCED SECURITY PRESENCE
At the E. L. Simon Courts, the University has
established a second point of entry that will be opened
from 7 a.m. until 12 midnight daily. This entry is on
Vine Street and is staffed by a security guard.
Although the gate is closed after midnight, the security
booth is a base of operation 24 hours a day.
A second security post has been established in the
vicinity of Holmes and Merner Halls. The post
currently consists of a guard: however, the University
plans to erect a security booth for this post.
A roving security officer will assist the posted
security officers at the Simon Courts, Merner-Holmes
and Pfieffer locations. This roving guard will check
regularly the entrances to all residence halls and
provide periodic checks inside the residence halls
during the night shift. This brings a total of three
officers to the main campus and three to Simon
Courts.
Foot patrols by the University’s security have been
instituted along Brawley Drive between Beckwith and
Greensferry and along Fair Street between Vine Street
and Brawley Drive. These are walking areas
frequented most by our students.
The shuttle service for students is continued with
trips from the Courts to Woodruff Library every half
hour. The shuttle service also makes periodic runs to
West End and the Vine City MARTA Stations. In
addition, CAU students may also use the Morris
Brown shuttle which services the area.
An on-call security escort service is available to
students who are unable to use the shuttle service for
on-campus trips. The on-call escort service may be
accessed by calling 880-8621 to arrange times for pick
up and drop off.
Security for special events are to be at their posts at
least one hour prior to the scheduled event. The size of
the force to be dispatched for special events will be
determined by the nature of the event. Normally, there
will be between four and six officers assigned.
The University has contracted with Georgia Power
to provide additional lighting around the campus.
Already in place are new high-powered light along
Lawshe Street serving Thayer, Kresge, Pfieffer and
Brawley halls and at the E.L. Simon Courts along Elm
and Vine streets. In addition, by Dec. 10,
high-powered lights will be operative on the Trevor
Arnett Quadrangle (near Sage and Quarles-
Washington Halls) and near Merner and Holmes
Halls. The University will assess any additional
lighting needs upon completion of the Georgia Power
Project.
The University has received bids for replacing the
existing fence around E.L. Simon Courts with a taller
enclosure reinforced by new barbed wire. We plan to
begin replacing the fence by Dec. 15.
Each residence hall director has been asked to
perform a new inventory of needed repairs to
individual door locks and to glass sliding doors. Given
that most of these materials will have to be special
ordered, there will be a lag time between receipt of
orders by our staf and shipping of goods by the
vendor. While we will complete this project as soon as
possible, we can not project a date at this time.
Last spring, the University installed new alarms on
the auxiliary entrances to each dormitory. The alarms
have again been checked. We need your assistance in
monitoring alarms and reporting individuals who
tamper with the alarm systems.
You should have already noticed that shrubbery
and trees have been trimmed at various locations
around the campus. A regular system of trimming will
be maintained for security and aesthetic purposes.
Blinds and new tracks for blinds have been ordered
to replace those that are in disrepair. The blinds are
scheduled to arrive on Thursday, Dec. 4 and to be
installed by Dec. 15.
COMMUN1CA TION
The U niversity has acquired stickers which carry the
numbers of our security offices. These stickers are
currently being installed on each University telephone.
The University shuttle service will have the
telephone numbers of CAU Security posted on all
vehicles by Dec. 8.
The University has relocated the headquarters for
security from the basement to the first floor of Trevor
Arnett in room 105. This new location has provided
better access to the security office. In addition, the
University has received permission to locate our
security operations in the Atlanta Police Department
Substation on Fair Street. Completion of plans for
this new location are in process.
The University has engaged in discussions with
other institutions in the Atlanta University Center to
coordinate security and police services.
The University has also obtained a commitment
from the Atlanta Police Department to extend the
hours of operation of the Fair Street Substation. The
Substation is open until midnight during the week and
twenty four hours a day on the weekend.
In addition to continuing periodic meetings with
student leaders, the President and the Dean of
Students will institute monthly student body meetings
with the first scheduled for Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. in Davage
Auditorium. The combination of these two
approaches ensure focused as well as broad-based
student input in decision-making.
In addition to the above areas of concern, some
other specific issues related to security were also
raised. First, we welcome the support of students in an
effort to free our community of the Package Store
located adjacent to Simon Courts. While the
administration has pursued unsuccessfully removal of
this activity, we can not help but be strengthened and
encouraged by joining forces. Second, requirements
for parking on university property will be reviewed if
consensus is reached by students to include
automobile registration as part of student fees. We
await a collective response on this matter.
Finally, we want you to know that we are pursuing
the concept of acquiring our own Campus Police
Force. The implications are being weighed and we
hope to have reached a decision by Dec. 15.
As always, 1 welcome your reactions and comments.
I look forward to our working together.
Sincerely,
Thomas W. Cole, Jr. President
